4/4/13 - While the Brighton City Council debated funding for the Downtown Development Authority at its meeting Thursday night, council still approved the revisions proposed by City Manager Dana Foster in the 2013-14 city budget. The new budget will be scheduled for a public hearing at the next meeting, on April 18 and adopted a month later. One council member in particular wasnât happy with the budget as it pertains to the cityâs Downtown Development Authority. Council Member Jim Bohn said the proposed budget includes funding for the DDA that should be spread equitably in the residential, commercial-industrial and downtown areas of the city. As it stands now, Bohn said, too much of the cityâs financial resources go to the DDA, as opposed to other needs in the city, including street repaving and repair. Former Detroit television news reporter Bill Spencer, who lives in the Brighton area, told council that of the many metro Detroit downtowns he has observed in his 15-year television career, Brightonâs is the most vibrant. Many downtown business owners also spoke out in support of the DDA, saying Brightonâs downtown area is considered all over the state as a model of how to have a successful downtown. The newly-revised budget proposed by Foster projects a $72,000 fund balance at the end of the 13-14 fiscal year. It does not contain any new revenue sources, but on the other hand, according to Foster, will not result in any cuts in city services. The budget doesnât call for any city employee layoffs, but on the other hand, when two city Department of Public Services employees retire next year they will not be replaced, if the budget is approved in May as now proposed. (TT)
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